Image pickup device

ABSTRACT

When a key for directly transferring from the screen of a “video mode” of tape reproduction to the screen of memory stick reproduction is separately arranged, the ratio of an occupation area of the key on the screen is increased. Therefore, a setting operation is performed such that a stop key ( 11   a ) is displayed when the “video mode” is set and no memory stick is mounted as shown in FIG.  1 A, and when the tape is being reproduced as shown in FIG.  1 C. In contrast to this, the setting operation is also performed such that a switching key ( 11   f ) for transferring to the reproducing screen of the memory stick of FIG.  1 D is displayed when the “video mode” is set and no tape is being reproduced and the memory stick is mounted as shown in FIG.  1 B.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/025,105, filed Sep. 12, 2013, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/075,349, (U.S. Pat. No. 8,570,400)filed Mar. 10, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/432,695, (U.S. Pat. No. 7,365,782) filed on May 27, 2003,which is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP02/05680, filed Jun. 7, 2002, which claimspriority from Japanese Application No. P2001-194915 filed Jun. 27, 2001,the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image pickup device, its usingmethod and its control program able to directly transfer from a videomode to a memory reproducing screen.

2. Background Art

A camera integral type VTR, etc. for recording a photographed image toplural recording media by a different recording system are recentlymanufactured as products of image pickup devices for recording andreproducing the photographed image. In such image pickup devices, thereis a device in which a different recording mode is prepared everyrecording medium, and a mode change-over switch is arranged so as toselect the recording mode by a user. For example, in the image pickupdevice for making the record to a tape and a memory card as therecording medium, a “video mode” for making the record to the tape and a“memory mode” for making the record to the memory card are prepared.These two modes are switched by the mode change-over switch.

However, when the “video mode” is selected by the user in the imagepickup device for preparing the modes every recording medium in such away, no recording and reproducing operations with respect to the memorycard can be easily performed while the “video mode” is selected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an imagepickup device, its using method and its control program able to easilyperform the recording and reproducing operations with respect to pluralrecording media so as to solve such problems.

To achieve such an object, in an image pickup device, a first icon forreproducing a second recording medium is displayed in a condition inwhich no first recording medium is being reproduced and the secondrecording medium is mounted in a reproducing mode of the first recordingmedium.

In such an image pickup device, the second recording medium can beeasily reproduced. In the conventional image pickup device, for example,when the reproducing screen in the “memory mode” is displayed, thisreproducing screen must be displayed via a through screen (or picture)and electric power consumption is large on the through screen. However,the electric power consumption is reduced in the present invention sinceit can directly transfer from the “video mode” to the “reproducingscreen of the memory stick”.

In the image pickup device, the first icon is displayed by replacing oneof icons displayed in the reproducing mode of the first recordingmedium.

In such an image pickup device, it is not necessary to separately addthe first icon onto the determined screen, and no occupation area of akey on the screen is increased.

In the image pickup device, a second icon for returning to thereproducing mode of the first recording medium is displayed on areproducing screen of the second recording medium displayed by operatingthe first icon.

In such an image pickup device, it is easy to return from thereproducing screen of the second recording medium to the reproducingmode of the first recording medium.

Next, in a using method of an image pickup device, the reproducingscreen of a second recording medium is displayed by operating a firsticon for reproducing the second recording medium in a condition in whichthe second recording medium is mounted when no first recording medium isbeing reproduced in a reproducing mode of the first recording medium.

When the using method of such an image pickup device is used, it ispossible to directly transfer from the reproducing mode of the firstrecording medium to the reproducing screen of the second recordingmedium.

In the using method of the image pickup device, it is returned from thereproducing screen of the second recording medium to the reproducingmode of the first recording medium by operating a second icon of thereproducing screen of the second recording medium.

When the using method of such an image pickup device is used, it is alsoeasy to return from the reproducing screen of the second recordingmedium to the reproducing mode of the first recording medium.

Next, control of an image pickup device comprises a step for judgingwhether or not no first recording medium is being reproduced and asecond recording medium is mounted, a step for displaying a switchingkey for reproducing the second recording medium when no first recordingmedium is being reproduced and the second recording medium is mounted,and a step for displaying a stop key for stopping the reproduction ofthe first recording medium when the first recording medium is beingreproduced or no second recording medium is mounted.

When the control program of such an image pickup device is used, ittransfers to the step for displaying the switching key for reproducingthe second recording medium only when no first recording medium is beingreproduced and the second recording medium is mounted. In the othercases, it transfers to the step for displaying the stop key for stoppingthe reproduction of the first recording medium.

In the control of the image pickup device, a step for displaying aswitching key for returning to a reproducing mode of the first recordingmedium during the reproduction of the second recording medium isarranged.

When the control program of such an image pickup device is used, it isalso easy to return from the reproducing screen of the second recordingmedium to the reproducing mode of the first recording medium since thestep for displaying the switching key for returning to the reproducingmode of the first recording medium during the reproduction of the secondrecording medium is arranged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D relate to a best mode of an image pickup devicein the present invention. FIG. 1A is a reproducing screen view at anon-reproducing time in a “video mode” having no memory stick. FIG. 1Bis a reproducing screen view at the non-reproducing time in the “videomode” having the memory stick. FIG. 1C is a reproducing screen viewduring the reproduction in the “video mode”. FIG. 1D is a reproducingscreen view of the memory stick.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a camera integral type VTR as oneembodiment of the image pickup device.

FIG. 3 is a through screen view when the camera integral type VTR is setto a camera mode.

FIGS. 4A and 4B relate to a case in which the camera integral type VTRis set to a “memory mode”. FIG. 4A is a through screen view. FIG. 4B isa reproducing screen view.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a best mode of the image pickup devicein the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a main portion of the best mode of acontrol program of the image pickup device in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The best modes of an image pickup device in the present invention willnext be explained.

FIG. 2 shows the construction of a camera integral type VTR. A lensportion 2 is arranged on the side of a main body 1 opposed to aphotographed body. When an image is recorded, the photographed body canbe recorded while an electronic view finder or a liquid crystal monitor4 is seen. A mode change-over switch 9 is arranged so that fourpositions of “OFF”, “camera mode”, “video mode” and “memory mode” can beselected. A picture recording button 10 for recording a dynamic image toan unillustrated tape (first recording medium) or a memory stick (secondrecording medium) 7, and a photo button 27 for recording a static imageare arranged. A microphone 5 for recording a voice is also arranged.

A cassette tape can be attached and detached by opening a cover body 6able to be opened and closed. The memory stick 7 is detachably insertedand mounted to a medium insertion port 8. In FIG. 2, reference numerals14 and 28 respectively designate an audio terminal and a battery of acharge type.

When the mode change-over switch 9 of FIG. 2 is set to the “video mode”,a reproducing screen of the tape of FIG. 1A is displayed in the liquidcrystal monitor 4. Similar to the conventional case, the tape can bereproduced on the reproducing screen of FIG. 1A by contact with areproducing key 11 c. In addition to this, the memory stick 7 can bereproduced in the present invention under a constant necessary conditionwhen the “video mode” is set. Namely, as shown in FIG. 1B, a switchingkey (first icon) 11 f able to directly transfer to a static imagereproducing screen of the memory stick of FIG. 1D is displayed insteadof a stop key (11 a) of FIG. 1A only when no tape is being reproducedand the memory stick 7 is inserted into the medium insertion port 8. Oneof the tape and the memory stick can be selected and reproduced on thescreen of FIG. 1B in the “video mode”.

As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, the icon of the stop key (11 a) is asquare mark, and is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 4 such thata user can know that this icon is a key for stopping the tape. Incontrast to this, as shown in FIG. 1B, for example, the switching key lffor reproducing the memory stick is a mark in which the character of“reproduction” and a triangular figure are drawn within a rectangularfigure (similar to the outer shape of the memory stick itself) having anotched corner portion. The switching key 11 f is displayed such thatthe user can easily distinguish this switching key 11 f from thereproducing key 11 c for reproducing the tape.

The above contents will next be described in detail. In the “videomode”, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the original stop key existing at theleft-hand end is changed in accordance with the screen. Namely, the stopkey is changed as follows. As shown in FIG. 1C, since it is necessary tostop the reproduction of the tape during the reproduction of the tape,the original stop key (11 a) is displayed. When the user comes incontact with this stop key (11 a), the screen of a stopping state of thereproduction of the tape is attained as shown in FIG. 1A. In the case ofFIG. 1A in which no memory stick 7 is mounted on the screens of FIGS. 1Aand 1B for reproducing no tape, no memory stick 7 can be reproduced sothat the stop key (11 a) is displayed. In contrast to this, in the caseof FIG. 1B in which the memory stick 7 is mounted, the switching key (11f) for switching to the reproducing screen of the memory stick of FIG.1D is displayed.

When the user comes in contact with the switching key (11 f) on thereproducing screen of the tape of FIG. 1B, it directly transfers to thereproducing screen of the memory stick 7 shown in FIG. 1D. Similar tothe conventional case, a static image can be then sequentiallyreproduced. A switching key (second icon) (12 f) for returning to thereproducing screen of the tape of the FIG. 1B is arranged on thereproducing screen of the memory stick of FIG. 1D.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a camera integral type VTR. In FIG. 5,reference numerals 15, 16 and 17 respectively designate an image pickupelement for converting light to an electric signal, a video camerasignal processing circuit for processing an image converted to theelectric signal, and a record-reproduction processing circuit of thetape distributed to record or reproduce the image and a voice convertedto the electric signal. Reference numerals 18, 19 and 20 respectivelydesignate a magnetic head for performing the conversion between theelectric signal and a magnetic signal for the record or reproduction, atape, and an audio signal processing circuit for processing the voiceconverted to the electric signal. Reference numeral 21 designates acharacter insertion circuit for inserting a key, characters, etc. intothe screen of a through image (the image of a photographed bodydisplayed in the liquid crystal monitor 4) and a reproduced image.Reference numerals 22 and 23 respectively designate a still camerasignal processing circuit for processing the image converted to theelectric signal, and a buffer memory for temporarily storing the imageconverted to the electric signal. Reference numeral 24 designates arecord-reproduction processing circuit of the memory stick for recordingthe image to the memory stick 7 and storing the image to the buffermemory 23 by there production. Reference numerals 25 and 26 respectivelydesignate a control section for controlling the operation of eachportion, and an operation section such as a key, the picture recordingbutton 10, the photo button 27, etc. on the liquid crystal monitor 4.

The operation of such a camera integral type VTR will next be explained.

When an image is recorded to the tape, the mode change-over switch 9 isset to the “camera mode”. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, a through image forprojecting a photographed body is displayed in the electronic viewfinder 3 and the liquid crystal monitor 4. Accordingly, when the picturerecording button 10 is pushed, a dynamic image begins to be recorded tothe tape. When the picture recording button 10 is again pushed, therecording of the dynamic image is terminated. When a static image isrecorded to the tape, the static image is recorded for about sevenseconds if the photo button 27 is pushed. This will be explained withreference to FIG. 5. Light passing through the lens portion 2 isconverted to an electric signal by the image pickup element 15.Thereafter, this electric signal is transmitted to the magnetic head 18through the video camera signal processing circuit 16 and therecord-reproduction processing circuit 17 of the tape. This electricsignal is then converted to a magnetic signal in the magnetic head 18,and is recorded to the tape 19. At this time, a voice is converted to anelectric signal by the microphone 5, and is recorded to the tape 19together with the image through the audio signal processing circuit 20,the record-reproduction processing circuit 17 of the tape, and themagnetic head 18. When the picture recording button 10 is again pushedduring the recording, the recording of the dynamic image is terminated.In the case of the static image, the static image is recorded only firstonce.

When the dynamic image or the static image recorded to the tape is nextreproduced, the mode change-over switch 9 is set to the “video mode”. Atthis time, if no memory stick 7 is mounted to the medium insertion port8, the reproducing screen constructed by only keys is displayed in theliquid crystal monitor 4 and the electronic view finder 3 as shown inFIG. 1A. Accordingly, the image is reproduced by operating the tape bycontact with each of the keys. Reference numerals 11 a, 11 b, 11 crespectively designate a stop key, an unwinding key and are producingkey. Reference numerals 11 d and 11 e respectively designate a rapidtraverse key and a function key for displaying keys for selecting a menuand the brightness of a monitor screen.

On the other hand, when the memory stick 7 is mounted to the mediuminsertion port 8, the reproducing screen of FIG. 1B is displayed in theliquid crystal monitor 4. The key at the left-hand end is set to thestop key (11 a) in the display of the screen of FIG. 1A. The dynamicimage or the static image can be reproduced by contact with thereproducing key 11 c as shown in FIG. 1C. However, the key at theleft-hand end is set to the switching key (11 f) for reproduction of thememory stick 7 on the screen of FIG. 1B. Accordingly, one of thereproduction of the tape of FIG. 1C and the reproduction of the memorystick 7 of FIG. 1D can be selected by contact with the reproducing key11 c or the switching key (11 f). Namely, the tape is reproduced bycontact with the reproducing key 11 c as shown in FIG. 1C. The memorystick 7 is reproduced by contact with the switching key (11 f) as shownin FIG. 1D. When it is returned from the reproducing screen of thememory stick 7 of FIG. 1D to the reproducing screen of the tape of FIG.1B, the user comes in contact with the switching key (12 f) of FIG. 1D.Namely, the mutual switching operation can be performed by the switchingkey (11 f) and the switching key (12 f) between the reproducing screenof FIG. 1D for reproducing the memory stick 7 and the reproducing screenof FIG. 1B for reproducing the tape.

The reproduction of the tape in the “video mode” of FIG. 1C will beexplained on the basis of FIG. 5. The magnetic signals of an image and avoice recorded to the tape 19 are converted to electric signals by themagnetic head 18, and are transmitted to the record-reproductionprocessing circuit 17 of the tape. The image is transmitted to theelectronic view finder and the liquid crystal monitor 4 through thecharacter insertion circuit 21, and characters, etc. and the image fromthe character insertion circuit 21 are displayed. In contrast to this,the voice is supplied to an unillustrated headphone, etc. through theaudio signal processing circuit 20 and the audio terminal 14.

When the image is next recorded to the memory stick 7, the modechange-over switch 9 is set to the “memory mode”. Thus, since the“memory mode” is set and the through screen of FIG. 4A is displayed, adynamic image begins to be recorded to the memory stick 7 when thepicture recording button 10 is pushed. When the picture recording button10 is again pushed, the recording of the dynamic image is terminated.When a static image is recorded to the memory stick 7, the photo button27 is pushed so that the static image is recorded. The recording to thememory stick 7 will be explained on the basis of FIG. 5. The imageconverted to the electric signal by the image pickup element 15 istemporarily stored to the buffer memory 23 through the still camerasignal processing circuit 22, and is recorded to the memory stick 7through the record-reproduction processing circuit 24 of the memorystick.

When the image recorded to the memory stick is reproduced, the modechange-over switch 9 is set to the “memory mode”. Thus, since thethrough screen of FIG. 4A is first displayed in the liquid crystalmonitor 4, the through screen is switched to the reproducing screenshown in FIG. 4B in contact with the key 13. Plural keys are displayedon the reproducing screen of FIG. 4B although these keys are partiallyconformed to the keys displayed on the reproducing screen of FIG. 1D.Reference numerals 12 a, 12 b and (12 c) respectively designate a returnkey for displaying the static image displayed by one before, a feed keyfor displaying the next static image, and a switching key for returningto the through screen of FIG. 4A. (The through screen of FIG. 4A and thereproducing screen of FIG. 4B are alternately switched by pushing theswitching key (13) of FIG. 4A and the switching key (12 c) of FIG. 4B.)Reference numerals 12 d and 12 e respectively designate an index key fordisplaying plural recorded static images as small thumbnail images, anda function key having the same function as the above function key 11 e.

In addition to this, the above reproducing screen of the memory stick ofFIG. 1D can be also displayed by contact with the switching key 11 f ina state in which the “video mode” is set and the memory stick 7 ismounted as shown in FIG. 1B as mentioned above. The static image isdisplayed when the reproducing screen of FIG. 4B or FIG. 1D isdisplayed. Accordingly, the static image can be sequentially reproducedby contact with the return key 12 a or the feed key 12 b. With respectto the reproduction of the static image, the reproduced image istemporarily stored from the memory stick 7 in FIG. 5 to the buffermemory 23 through the record-reproduction processing circuit 24 of thememory stick, and is transmitted to the electronic view finder 3 and theliquid crystal monitor 4 through the still camera signal processingcircuit 22 and the character insertion circuit 21. Thus, characters,etc. and the image from the character insertion circuit 21 aredisplayed. The explanation of the reproduction of the dynamic imageusing the memory stick is omitted here.

In addition to this, for example, the image recorded to the memory stickcan be also recorded to the tape by displaying a key for recording theimage to another recording medium such as the tape, etc. at thereproducing time of the memory stick in the “memory mode”. Further, theimage recorded to the tape can be also reversely recorded to the memorystick by displaying a key for recording the image to the memory stick atthe reproducing time of the tape in the “video mode”.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a portion directly transferring from the“video mode” in the present invention to the “reproducing screen of thememory stick”. When a user first comes in contact with the leftmost keyof the liquid crystal monitor 4 displayed in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C in astep SP1 and there is no function for directly making the movement fromthe “video mode” to the “reproducing screen of the memory stick” as inthe conventional case in a step SP2, there is no change since the keydisplay in a step SP3 is set to the “stop key”. In contrast to this,when there is the function for directly transferring from the “videomode” to the “reproducing screen of the memory stick”, it is detectedwhether the tape is in a stopping state and the memory stick 7 ismounted to the medium insertion port 8 in a step SP4. When at least oneof these necessary conditions is not satisfied, the key display in astep SP5 is set to the stop key (11 a) as it is as shown in FIGS. 1A and1C. In contrast to this, when both the necessary conditions aresatisfied, the switching key (11 f) is displayed in a step SP6 as shownin FIG. 1B. When the user comes in contact with this switching key (11f), the “reproducing screen of the memory stick” is displayed as shownin FIG. 1D, and the memory stick is reproduced.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As mentioned above, the present invention is usefully used in an imagepickup device able to reproduce first and second recording media. In thebest mode of the present invention, the first recording medium is thetape, and the second recording medium is the memory stick. However,CD-ROM, DVD, etc. may be used instead of the tape, and a compact flash,a multimedia card, a memory card, etc. may be also used instead of thememory stick. Otherwise, a using method reverse to this using methodwith respect to the tape and the memory stick may be also used.

The procedure of the processing shown in FIG. 6 can be constructed bythe program of a computer, and this program can be executed by thecomputer. Further, this program can be also provided through a networksuch as the Internet, electronic mail, etc.

1. (canceled)
 2. An information processing apparatus comprising:circuitry configured to: display a first icon to reproduce a firstcontent stored on a first medium in a first medium reproducing mode, ina case that the first medium is accessible before reproducing a secondcontent stored on a second medium in a second medium reproducing mode.3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe first medium is an external medium.
 4. The information processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first content includes amovie, and the reproduction of the first content is reproduction of themovie.
 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,wherein a function to reproduce the first content is assigned to thefirst icon, and a function state of the first icon is changed fromanother function based on accessibility of the first medium.
 6. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thedisplayed first icon is changed from another icon based on accessibilityof the first medium.
 7. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to display asecond icon to reproduce the second content.
 8. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the displayed secondicon is changed from another icon in response to the reproduction of thefirst content.
 9. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the first medium reproducing mode and the second mediumreproducing mode are configured to be switched based on a useroperation.
 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim2, further comprising: an imaging unit.
 11. The information processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to display a second icon relating to reproduction of thefirst content and the second content.
 12. An information processingmethod comprising: controlling, by a processing device, display of afirst icon to reproduce a first content stored on a first medium in afirst medium reproducing mode, in a case that the first medium isaccessible before reproducing a second content stored on a second mediumin a second medium reproducing mode.
 13. The information processingmethod according to claim 12, wherein the first medium is an externalmedium.
 14. The information processing method according to claim 12,wherein the first content includes a movie, and the reproduction of thefirst content is reproduction of the movie.
 15. The informationprocessing method according to claim 12, wherein a function to reproducethe first content is assigned to the first icon, and a function state ofthe first icon is changed from another function based on accessibilityof the first medium.
 16. The information processing method according toclaim 12, wherein the displayed first icon is changed from another iconbased on accessibility of the first medium.
 17. The informationprocessing method according to claim 12, further comprising:controlling, by the processing device, display of a second icon toreproduce the second content.
 18. The information processing methodaccording to claim 17, wherein the displayed second icon is changed fromanother icon in response to the reproduction of the first content. 19.The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein thefirst medium reproducing mode and the second medium reproducing mode areconfigured to be switched based on a user operation.
 20. The informationprocessing method according to claim 12, further comprising:controlling, by the processing device, an imaging unit.
 21. Theinformation processing method according to claim 12, further comprising:controlling, by the processing device, display of a second icon relatingto reproduction of the first content and the second content.